Thursday, October 25, 2012

DURGA PUJA 2012 - PART I

Devi and her 'children'- Kartik in far right as seen in this photo - come down a spiral.

Tarun De. Barisha Udayan Club.

Very lyrical,very graceful posture.

Many photographers - both amateur and professional - who like to chronicle their love for Durga Puja start their journey from Kumortuli. These journeys have produced some wonderful shots , some repeatations. I have been too lazy to visit Kumortuli for photography - only once I went there as a child with my grandfather . I reckon this is one experience I have missed so far.

Devi among two hemispheres ( lower one in this photo) , within a Pavilion conceived as a 'Kadamba' flower.

Shib Shankar Das. Santoshpur Triangular Park.

(Photo taken 14days before inauguration)

Devi ushering peace. A very tranquil image.

Shib Shankar Das. Santoshpur Triangular Park.

This year my association with Durga Puja started with visits to 'sites' where Sanatan Dinda , Shiba Prasad Das and Purnendu Dey were working beyond the eyes of the public. I also did a good amount of internet search to get hold of old photographs of Jiten Pal's work, which brought into contact contact with some veteran Press photographers and finally Naba Pal, grandson of legendary Jiten Pal. More on the work of searching archives at a later date. Though I am yet to get the photographs I was looking for.

Huge butterfly , installed by Bhabotosh Sutar. Naktala Udayan Sangha.

Looks like a dream when illuminated in the night.

Devi envisaged by Bhabotosh Sutar in spite of publicity, a disappointment.

During our 'Puja Parikrama' this year, I have seen a good no of excellent work. I am also learning to appreciate the great amount of artistic as well as mundane work which go into making an outstanding pavilion and at the same time shaping an idol that stands out in the crowd,stays in the heart of the viewer.

Yet, there are artists who do not get publicity and their good work is ignored by the prize-giving community, at times by the pandal-hoppers who are often guided by the Bengali News channels. One major work which has been largely overlooked is Barisha Udayan Palli. Tarun De's work - in Gen Y's language - rocks.

'ShivLinga' @ Barisha Sarbajanin.

Sanatan Dinda.

Devi placed within a cut-out on the 'SivaLinga' ,viewed at an angle.Flames rage on the blue-coloured Linga. Symbols of eye seem to float on it !Barisha Sarbajanin. Sanatan Dinda.

Sanatan Dinda's works in 2012 need elaborate explanation.It has several layers - beyond the obvious visual. More on Sanatan's work in future posts.